German Chancellor Accuses Far-Right AfD of Seeking 'Ethnic Cleansing'
Friedrich Merz says Alternative für Deutschland is 'dividing' German society after the nativist party secured nearly 44% of the vote in a Saxony-Anhalt state election.
Germany's chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has accused the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party of pursuing what he called "ethnic cleansing" through its "remigration" agenda, following the party's strong showing in a weekend state election in Saxony-Anhalt.
According to The Guardian, Merz made the comments during a heated parliamentary debate, marking the first public confrontation between him and the AfD since Sunday's election result. The AfD won nearly 44% of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt, a result described by the newspaper as a "seismic" victory for the nativist party.
Merz reportedly told parliament that the AfD's campaign of mass deportations would undermine one of the pillars of the German economy, characterizing the party's platform as racist in nature. He also said the AfD was "dividing our society," according to the report.
The AfD's remigration policy, which has drawn scrutiny from mainstream German political parties, calls for the large-scale deportation of migrants and, according to critics cited in the report, extends to people with migrant backgrounds regardless of citizenship status.
The Saxony-Anhalt election result has intensified debate in Germany over the rise of the AfD, which has gained ground in several eastern German states in recent years. The confrontation in parliament reflects growing tension between Merz's government and the far-right party following the state-level vote.
The Guardian noted that the exchange took place amid a broader national reckoning over the AfD's growing electoral strength and its implications for German politics.
Sources
- German chancellor accuses far-right AfD party of seeking ‘ethnic cleansing’ — The Guardian — World
EGazette summarizes reporting from multiple sources; follow the links for the originals.
Related articles
German Chancellor's Political Future Uncertain as Two States Hold Elections
Voters head to the polls in two German states amid concerns over Chancellor Friedrich Merz's standing and continued gains by the far-right AfD party
Germans Vote in State Elections Seen as Test for Chancellor Merz
Voters in two German states cast ballots Sunday in polls that could boost far-right and far-left parties and add to pressure on the chancellor's coalition.
CDU Wins Just 4.9% in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Election Body Says
The state election commission reported a sharp drop in support for Chancellor Friedrich Merz's party in the northeastern German state
Germans Vote in Eastern State Election With SPD, AfD Locked in Tight Race
Voters in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern head to the polls with pre-election surveys showing a close contest between the ruling Social Democrats and the far-right Alternative for Germany.
Two German States Vote as Berlin, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Head to Polls
About 3.8 million voters were eligible to cast ballots Sunday in state elections held against a backdrop of reported gains for Germany’s far right, according to Al Jazeera.
In Germany, Friedrich Merz's CDU suffers historic defeat in Eastern state
For the first time since 1949, the Christian Democratic Union has fallen below the 5% threshold in a regional election, the minimum required to gain seats in the local parliament.
Comments
Loading comments…